HELLO, DOLLY! Sets August 25 Closing Date; Bette Midler to Return July 17

[BroadwayConcierge]

WHOA!!!

https://apnews.com/4542d7f93c9444e4a23ab74fdcc9280c

[Bwayfan292]

Well this is depressing

[BroadwayConcierge]

I’m sooooo sad that this triumphant production is ending, but man, what a way to close it out. I’m already ill thinking about what ticket prices for Bette’s final run will be like... but damn it, I’ll be there!!

[Papi2013]

I am so there!

[bwayboy22]

So sad to see this production close, was looking forward to seeing the many great Dollys yet to come! Will definitely try to get back again for Bette, do we think Donna Murphy will return to Tuesday nights (or maybe another Broadway name?) or will they just not have a show on Tuesday?

[Bwayfan292]

I hope dollypop takes the news well

[BroadwayBeebe]

I was so excited to see Bette and David were coming back, but when I reached the closing notice part my heart immediately sank. Must try and squeeze in as many visits to Yonkers as possible before the parade passes. I’m glad that it will go out as triumphantly as it came in. I will be there on August 25th with many tissues in tow.

[broadwayboy223]

This is kind of sad. I was hoping this would run for years and we'd get to see a lot of fabulous Dolly's  

[msmp]

I'm glad Bette will be back because I missed the chance to see her last year, but...the closing notice is crushing.

[Papi2013]

I hope they film it this time. 

[Clyde15]

Any idea why this show is closing? It seems weird when it is still consistently grossing +1mil a week

[Dolly80]

Ah such a shame it won’t continue with other actresses in it but the news that Bette will return is a bit of a wow. Did not see that coming!

[haterobics]

Clyde15 said: "Any idea why this show is closing? It seems weird when it is still consistently grossing +1mil a week"

Couldn't get a big enough name to continue after Bernadette?

[ND_2000]

I know shows announce closing often and it’s the nature of the business, but this one really broke my heart a bit tonight. By far, the most joyous night I’ve had in a theater. Broadway will be a little bit darker without it. Glad Bette is returning to finish this triumphant production. I just wish that so many more extraordinary actresses could’ve played this role over time.

[reginula]

I really thought Dolly would be at the Shubert for another five years or so. I just didn’t see it coming. So sad. How come?
I’d give anything to see it again. I hope they film it as well.

[Bette's Turban]

I am so shocked.  Thrilled to get see Bette again.  But I am shocked.  Really did not see this one coming.  

[qolbinau]

I wonder if they announced Bette’s return too soon.

[WestCoastActor/Director]

Also surprised and said by this news. I also thought this would run for a long time with several wonderful Dollys along the way.

If it does have to go it is so cool that Bette Midler is coming back. Her Dolly was such a wonderful performance.

I recently saw Bernadette and enjoyed her turn.

I'm planning to be in New York this summer so I'll have to try to get a ticket to see this again. I adored Charlie Stemp as Barnaby.

[blaxx]

qolbinau said: "I wonder if they announced Bette’s return too soon."

 

Totally, what a way to kill ticket sales until then.

[LesWickedly]

So saddened by the news and sad I won’t be able to see Bette again. Also buried in there is hat David Hyde Pierce will be returning as well as Gavin. I wonder if this means Gavin is returning with Bette and David or just that he’s returning sometime soon to the production (hoping for the latter).

[msmp]

It reads like Gavin's not returning until Bette's second debut. IIRC, his reason for the break was back surgery, which usually has a long recovery time, so it's possible.

Also, add me to the list of people shocked this is closing so soon. I figured with all the rumors about a Name being wooed to take over from Bernadette, a la the 1960s run, there had to be someone waiting in the wings. This show deserved to run a lot longer than 18 months.

And why announce Bette's return now? Some people will put off seeing the show, which is just going to hurt the weekly gross now. Are they hoping they can get the same premium prices they got last time Bette was above the title? :/

[bear88]

I assume the producers are hoping they will get those same premium prices, maybe higher. That's probably a good bet.

I don't know what the impact of Midler's return will be on the show in the meantime. It's obviously not a positive, but I don't know how much damage the announcement will do. 

[Elegance101]

Well, if they announced it later, that means tickets for Bette’s second run would go on sale later. They’ve never made tickets available if it wasn’t explicitly announced who would be the Dolly at that time. So maybe they want a few months of tickets being on sale?

Also, it is really sad and I hope this revival is remembered for how joyous and lush it was, and not just for Bette Midler being in it. It was spectacular outside of her performance, as well.

Last point: why was this announced at 1 am?

[qolbinau]

I think the issue is the producers had no reason to announce early because Bette tickets would sell very very quickly. They could have announced this a month before she started and not worried about ticket sales. But now how many people are going to wait for Bette and avoid Bernadette? Hopefully not too many.

[ACL2006]

haterobics said: "Clyde15 said: "Any idea why this show is closing? It seems weird when it is still consistently grossing +1mil a week"

Couldn't get a big enough name to continue after Bernadette?"

I'm guessing whatever name they had lined up after Peters fell through. Maybe they'll just let the u/s alt the 8th show?